How dropshipping works in HoopAI
- Connect a dropshipping supplier or catalog to your store.
- Import products from the supplier’s catalog into your HoopAI product catalog.
- Set your retail prices (markup over the supplier’s wholesale cost).
- A customer places an order on your store.
- The order is routed to the supplier for fulfillment.
- The supplier ships the product directly to the customer.
- You keep the difference between the retail price and the supplier cost.
Connecting suppliers
Choose a dropshipping supplier
Select a supplier that integrates with the HoopAI platform or supports API-based order routing. Common options include print-on-demand services, wholesale marketplaces, and specialty suppliers.
Connect via integrations
Navigate to Settings > Integrations and connect the supplier. For suppliers without a direct integration, use Zapier or Make to automate order forwarding.
Product sync
After initial import, product sync keeps your catalog current:- Price updates — supplier price changes are reflected in your cost data
- Inventory levels — out-of-stock products can be automatically hidden or marked as unavailable
- New products — newly added supplier products can be imported selectively
Order routing
When an order is placed on your store:- The platform sends the order details (product, variant, quantity, shipping address) to the supplier.
- The supplier confirms the order and provides a tracking number.
- The tracking number is saved to the order in HoopAI and shared with the customer.
- Trigger: Order Submitted
- Action: Send webhook to supplier API or forward order details via email
Inventory management
Even though you do not hold stock, tracking supplier inventory is important:- Enable inventory sync if the supplier supports it — products automatically show as unavailable when the supplier runs out
- Set low-stock alerts to proactively source alternatives
- Use product variants to offer items from multiple suppliers as backup sources
Margin tracking
Track your profit margins in the product catalog:| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Supplier cost | The price you pay the supplier per unit |
| Retail price | The price your customer pays |
| Margin | Retail price minus supplier cost |
| Margin % | (Margin / Retail price) x 100 |
Dropshipping requires clear communication about shipping times. Since products ship from the supplier’s warehouse (often internationally), delivery can take longer than standard e-commerce. Set accurate shipping expectations on your product pages and in confirmation emails.